About the strategy
South Australia's Recreational Boating Safety Strategy is a five-year plan to guide us to 2030. It sets out what we want to achieve to improve safety on our waters.
Why we need the strategy
More boaters, jet ski riders, paddleboarders and other watercraft users are making the most of our coastal and inland waters. Unfortunately, sometimes incidents do occur.
In the last 20 years, 65 people lost their lives by drowning while boating in powered and non-powered watercraft in South Australia.
(Drowning data provided by Royal Life Saving Society - Australia’s National Fatal Drowning Database)
A further five people died over the last ten years from trauma-related incidents on the water. This includes collisions or other sudden impacts.
There are many more cases of boaters who:
- experienced near misses
- had accidents
- required rescue after a trip went wrong.
This is why we need a practical plan to create a safer future for everyone who enjoys our coastal and inland waters.
Strategy outline
Our vision
Foster a culture of safety among recreational boaters who share our state’s coastal and inland waters to achieve:
- zero fatalities
- zero harm to others.
Our priority areas
We will make recreational boating safer through five key areas:
- Safer boating through education
- Safer boating operation and knowledge
- Lifejacket wear and safety equipment review
- Safer waterway management
- Safer boating through technology.
Each priority area has a list of actions guided by evidence and extensive consultation. We will continue to collaborate with marine safety partners and the community to progress these actions.
